Biodiversity Data Journal : Data Paper (Biosciences)
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Data Paper (Biosciences)
Avian species survey with citizen-science data in Janghang Wetland, Goyang, Republic of Korea
expand article infoHyun-Ah Choi‡,§, Eunjeong Lee|,, Eunjeong Kim|,, Insook Jung|, Donguk Han|
‡ Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
§ OJEong Resilience Institute, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| PGA Eco and Bio Diversity Institute, ECO Korea, Goyang, Republic of Korea
¶ Kongju National University, Gongju, Republic of Korea
Corresponding author: Donguk Han (ecoguideuk@gmail.com)
Academic editor: Caio J. Carlos
Received: 27 Apr 2023 | Accepted: 19 May 2023 | Published: 31 May 2023
© 2023 Hyun-Ah Choi, Eunjeong Lee, Eunjeong Kim, Insook Jung, Donguk Han
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Choi H-A, Lee E, Kim E, Jung I, Han D (2023) Avian species survey with citizen-science data in Janghang Wetland, Goyang, Republic of Korea. Biodiversity Data Journal 11: e105580. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e105580
 Open Access

Abstract

Background

Monitoring of avian populations in Janghang Wetland, Goyang, Republic of Korea (ROK) is based on citizen science (also called community-based monitoring). This monitoring data can be used to track avian density, population status and waterbird census at local, national and regional levels. The Ministry of Environment (MoE) ROK has surveyed since 1999, including Odusan Unification Tower to Ilsan Bride, which connects the cities of Gimpo and Goyang along the Han River estuary. However, it has not covered Janghang Wetland, which is located in the Han River estuary at the transboundary between the two Koreas. The Janghang Wetland is a protected wetland in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas. In 2019, Janghang Wetland was designated as a Flyway Network Site by Goyang City and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership. This Network site is a voluntary collaboration and includes many internationally significant wetlands for waterbirds that still lack formal national protection. In addition, it was designated as a Ramsar site in 2021. The wetland currently supports wintering population of White-naped Crane (Grus vipio), species listed as vulnerable and Tundra Bean Goose (Anser cygnoides), spring-autumn migration population of Swan Goose (Anser cygnoid), species listed as vulnerable and a breeding population of Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor), species listed as endangered in summer.

New information

We provide data that the Janghang Wetland is a significant area for migration and breeding for waterbirds; and that Han River estuary is also internationally important for waterbirds during the migratory bird season. We observed 14 orders, 42 families and 132 species. The surveys also observed the critically-endangered Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor), Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides), White-naped Crane (Grus vipio), Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). We also observed the Black-faced Spoonbill, Great Egret, Little Egret, Great Cormorant, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Pheasant and Brown-eared Bulbul at the sensor camera point and White-naped Crane, Hooded Crane, Bean Goose, White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Swan Goose, Great Cormorant and Eastern Spot-billed Duck at the closed-circuit television camera point from the camera-trap surveys. Based on the species recorded, the survey area is of clear importance for biodiversity conservation.

Keywords

Han River estuary, waterbirds, brackish water zone, conservation, citizen science

Introduction

The Janghang Wetland is a site of international importance located in Han River estuary. It is an estuarine wetland teeming with a stretch of Salix koreensis (Korean willows), rarely seen in other brackish water zones of Korea. The Salix koreensis community has not only a symbiotic relationship with benthos, including Chiromantes dehaani, Sesarmops intermedius and Ilyoplax deschampsi, which are indicator species of a blackish water zone, but also plays a role in regulating temperature of the urban area, decreasing carbon and protecting the margins of the river. It serves as an important stopover site for more than 30,000 birds each year, providing habitat and food for winter visitors, such as Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor), Hooded crane (Grus monachal), White-naped Crane (Grus vipio) and Bean goose (Anser fabalis). This site was established as a National Wetland Protected Area on 17 April 2006, designated as East Asian-Australasian Flyway site on 10 May 2019 (EAAFP 2019) and Ramsar site on 20 May 2021 (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2021).

General description

Purpose: 

MoE has surveyed the annual Winterbird Census since 1999, as part of the Asia Waterbird Census (MoE 1999, MoE and National Institute of Environmental Research 2000, MoE 2001, MoE and National Institute of Environmental Research 2002, MoE and National Institute of Environmental Research 2003, MoE and National Institute of Environmental Research 2004, MoE and National Institute of Environmental Research 2005, MoE and National Institute of Environmental Research 2006, MoE and National Institute of Environmental Research 2007, MoE and National Institute Biological Resources 2008, National Institute Biological Resources 2010, National Institute Biological Resources 2012, MoE and National Institute Biological Resources 2013). However, the current area of the Asia Waterbird Census does not include the westernmost part of the Han River estuary area, including Siman-ri Wetland in Gimpo-si (city) and Janghang wetland in Goyang-si (National Institute Biological Resource 2020, National Institute of Biological Resources 2022). In both areas, there are, at this time, thousands of geese, plus numerous other waterbirds. With this background, this work aimed to conduct an inventory of the waterbirds in the inner border area of Goyang in ROK, focused on the Janghang Wetland.

Additional information: 

The survey result is provided in the supplementary material (Suppl. material 1).

Project description

Title: 

Ecological Survey in Janghang Wetland

Personnel: 

The survey was led by a citizen-science group, including four experts who have experience over 10 years, 10 assistants who have experience over 5 years, one officer within local government and two ornithologists for identification and data preparation at research institutes. To ensure accuracy for the bird identification, we recorded photos and did peer-reviews. The survey was conducted over 11 months between April 2020 and March 2021 by ECO Korea, a citizen-science organisation. We gathered data during forty-four surveys.

Study area description: 

The study area is part of Han River Estuary Wetland Protected Area, designated on 17 April 2006 by the Ministry of Environment, ROK. The total area is 60,668 km2 (Fig. 1). In addition, the study area is a civilian-controlled area in the DMZ, where access to the public is restricted due to the threat of land mines and the Military Installation Protected Area.

Figure 1.  

The survey area, Janghang Wetland (Sourced by authors' compilation, based on the map of Janghang Wetland by Goynag City).

Funding: 

The project is supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2021R1A6A1A10045235) and Han River Basin Environmental Office.

Sampling methods

Description: 

This study covered Janhang Wetland and the surrounding area along the Jayu-Ro (road).

Sampling description: 

We focused counting on bird species found in open wetland habitats, as defined by the Ramsar Convention (e.g. along streams and waterways; the river edge). We covered five points with specific and secured areas (Fig. 2) and stayed for a particular time to survey with binoculars (8×32, Swarovski) and telescope (20~60×, Swarovski). We also did camera-trap surveys to record the cryptic species at the tidal channel, the inner area of Janghang Wetland, such as with a sensor camera (HP2X Hyperfire 2 Covert IR Camera) and a closed-circuit television camera at the submerged sleeping ground of the winter birds. During the surveys, we counted every individual bird, based on point surveys and line surveys that we either heard or saw from a slowly moving vehicle (average < 20 km/h) and walking in Janhang Wetland. We also did video analysis using camera trapping for the bird identification.

Figure 2.  

The survey points (A-E), sensor camera point (B) and closed-circuit television camera point (C) (Sourced by authors' compilation, based on Google Earth).

Geographic coverage

Description: 

The survey area covered the Goyang City of ROK, N37º39’22.36"~ 37º36’43.90" and E126º47’46.34"~126º43’3.43".

Taxonomic coverage

Description: 

This dataset (Suppl. material 1) provides the distribution information for the 132 species of birds recorded in Janghang Wetland following the IOC World Bird List version 13.1 (Gill et al. 2023).

Taxa included:
Rank Scientific Name Common Name
kingdom Animalia Animals
class Aves Birds
order Accipitriformes
order Anseriformes
order Bucerotiformes
order Charadriformes
order Ciconiiformes
order Columbiformes
order Cuculiformes
order Falconiformes
order Galliformes
order Gruiformes
order Passeriformes
order Pelecaniformes
order Piciformes
order Podicipediformes
family Accipitridae
family Acrocephalidae
family Aegithalidae
family Alaudidae
family Alcedinidae
family Anatidae
family Cettidae
family Charadriidae
family Ciconiidae
family Columbidae
family Coraciidae
family Corvidae
family Emberizidae
family Falconidae
family Fringillidae
family Gruidae
family Hirundinidae
family Laniidae
family Laridae
family Motacillidae
family Muscicapidae
family Oriolidae
family Pandionidae
family Paridae
family Passeridae
family Phalacrocoracidae
family Phasianidae
family Phylloscipidae
family Picidae
family Podicipedidae
family Pycnonotidae
family Rallidae
family Recurvirostridae
order Reguliidae
family Remizidae
family Scolopacidae
family Sturnidae
family Sylviidae
family Threskiornithidae
family Troglodytidae
family Turdidae
family Upupidae

Temporal coverage

Notes: 

6 April 2020 to 29 March 2021

Usage licence

Usage licence: 
Creative Commons Public Domain Waiver (CC-Zero)

Data resources

Data package title: 
Janghang Wetland Avian Survey Data
Number of data sets: 
1
Data set name: 
Avian Survey result
Data format: 
https://ipt.pensoft.net/resource?r=janghang
Data format version: 
Darwin Core Archive
Description: 

The dataset (Suppl. material 1) is the observation birds list in Janghang Wetland, Goyang City, ROK, 43x observations from April 2020 to March 2021. The taxonomy and nomenclature follow the IOC World Bird List (v. 13.1) (Gill et al. 2023).

Column label Column description
basisOfRecord The specific nature of the data record.
occurrenceID An identifier for the Occurrence (as opposed to a particular digital record of the occurrence).
recordedBy A list of names of people, groups or organisations responsible for recording the original Occurrence.
eventDate The date-time or interval during which an Event occurred.
eventTime The time or interval during which an Event occurred.
eventRemarks Weather conditions.
continent The name of the continent in which the Location occurs.
countryCode The standard code for the country in which the Location occurs.
country The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the Location occurs.
locality The specific description of the place.
locationRemarks Comments or notes about the Location.
decimalLatitude The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in geodeticDatum) of the geographic centre of a Location.
decimalLongitude The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in geodeticDatum) of the geographic centre of a Location.
geodeticDatum The ellipsoid, geodetic datum or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimalLatitude and decimalLongitude are based.
coordinateUncertaintyInMetres The horizontal distance (in metres) from the given decimalLatitude and decimalLongitude describing the smallest circle containing the whole of the Location. Leave the value empty if the uncertainty is unknown, cannot be estimated or is not applicable (because there are no coordinates). Zero is not a valid value for this term.
class Class name.
order Order.
family Family.
scientificName An identifier for the nomenclatural (not taxonomic) details of a scientific name.
vernacularName A common or vernacular name.
individualCount The number of individuals represented present.
identificationReferences List of references (publications) used in the Identification.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Goyang City, Republic of Korea for supporting the survey in the border area, anonymous reviewers' comments, Dr. Yasen Mutafchiev and Dr. Robert Mesibov for the technical support.

Author contributions

HAC and DH did conceptualidation, methodology, performed analysis, data curation and wrote the manuscript. EL, EK, IJ and DH did investigation, data curation and formal analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

References

Supplementary material

Suppl. material 1: Janghang Wetland Avian Survey Data 
Authors:  Hyun-Ah Choi, Eunjeong Lee, Eunjeong Kim, Insook Jung, Donguk Han
Data type:  Occurrences
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